practice - patience & persistence. I never bothered for years with one, then used it and the T handle snapped on the weld. Ended up using a 12" long screwdriver, cut the pozi end off, cleaned up then heated red hot and bent 15mm of the end to 40 degrees. Fits great under the belt with plenty of leverage.

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If it was assembled it can be disassembled - if we can't repair it then it probably isn't worth repairing !

ONce you get used to it, you cant live without it! You just need a manly pull for a new belt!

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Collector and restorer of vintage vacuums, Dyson Appreciator! Come and see my blog, where I am uploading all my mountains of brochures, manuals and other vacuum cleaner paperwork, and also my youtube channel @beko1987!

I have one, once you get used to it its great. First handle snapped as ryevac said, apparently bad batch and I got a replacement I have noticed my new one has slightly bent now but its still pulling. Hopefully it doesnt snap..

They are a great bit of kit once you are used to them.

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Collector and restorer of most vacuum cleaners including vintage, older style models and newer models. Seller of refurbished vacuums and vacuum parts Livin' every day, as if it were the last!

I think there was a bad batch. Mine's ancient, I must have bought it 5+ years ago, along with the DC07 workshop manual which is excellent although utterly pointless for me now, and it's been fine!

I've seen them fail, so there are iffy ones out there, but mines done 200+ lifts, and is still rock solid! No paint left mind.

However, even on the 201st lift, if you're not careful you'll slip the holder off the chassis and give your thumb an almighty wack and it'll hurt like f**k! You have to have the correct position and angle of lift

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Collector and restorer of vintage vacuums, Dyson Appreciator! Come and see my blog, where I am uploading all my mountains of brochures, manuals and other vacuum cleaner paperwork, and also my youtube channel @beko1987!